Summer camp returning to YMCA

I'm not sure what first prompted my mom to send me to summer camp. It was probably because our hometown Y provided financial assistance to our family and my mom could thus afford it. Whatever the reason, I'm glad she did. From the time I was nine or ten until I was in my early twenties, going to camp was the highlight of my summer. I started out as a camper. As soon as I was old enough, I became a counselor. In high school, while my friends were working summer jobs at fast food restaurants or the local canning factory, I was spending my days at our Y day camp on the lake helping children explore nature and learn about themselves. Because of Y camp, I spent most of my summer outside in nature, being active, making friends and learning to be a leader. This summer we're offering this Y camp experience to Marion youth.

Marion has a tradition of Y Day Camp. Many adults who grew up in Marion remember spending their summers attending Y Day Camp at Mt. Gilead State Park. I'm not sure when our Y stopped offering this program, but it's been at least a decade and probably a lot longer since we took children to a camp location where they spent the entire day outside being active and enjoying nature. Now that experience is once again available to Marion youth. This summer's Y Day Camp is open to boys and girls ages seven through twelve. Campers will begin and end each day at the Wopat YMCA Center on Barks Road. Three days each week we will bus the entire camp to Delaware State Park. The other two days the camp will remain at the Y, but will still focus their time outside. Campers will engage in traditional camp activities such as arts & crafts, hiking, learning about nature, fishing, singing, skits, and story-telling. One of the most important aspects of Y camp though is more intangible - the relationship between campers, their counselor and each other. Through small groups, campers get to know one another and their counselor. Counselors will use activities to role model positive behavior and develop relationships that are important to a young person's development. I remember looking up to my counselors and learning from them. Our Y Day Camp will provide this same experience for Marion's youth.

Y Day Camp dates are: June 17 - 21; June 24 - 28; July 8 - 12; and July 15 - 19. Children may attend just one week or all four. The camp day begins at 9:00 am, but children may arrive as early as 7:30 am and stay as late as 5:30 pm. In order to reintroduce Y Day Camp to the community, we're keeping fees low. Day Camp fees for Y members are is $80 per week. For community members who aren't Y members fees are still affordable at $120 per week. There is a slight additional cost for the extended day of 7:30 am to 5:30 pm. We're very grateful to Marion County Board of Developmental Disabilities for providing camp transportation at no cost. Camp registration is now open, and I encourage parents to register early as spots are limited.

Even though Day Camp fees are quite low for a week-long experience, we know that many families in Marion can't afford even that amount. At the Y we're committed to ensuring that all Marion children have the opportunity to participate in camp and other Y programs. We will have financial assistance with camp fees available for families who demonstrate financial need. Families who qualify for assistance will still pay a portion of their child's camp fees with the Y subsidizing the balance. This is part of our comprehensive financial assistance program. This program is possible in a large part due to the generosity of Y volunteers and donors through our annual Building a Strong Community Campaign. This year's campaign goal is $90,000. Funds help ensure that all Marion youth have the opportunity to reach their full potential and all Marion residents have opportunities to improve their well-being regardless of the current financial situation.

For more information on Y Day Camp or contributing to the Y's Building a Strong Community Campaign, please call the Y at 740-725-9622, visit our website at marionymca.org, or best yet visit the Wopat YMCA Center at 645 Barks Road East.